Man Kills 3 Co-Workers, Himself

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —  A factory worker was close to being fired for missing work too much before he pulled a gun in the middle of the plant floor and killed three co-workers, authorities said Wednesday.

Jonathon Russell, 25, later committed suicide after a gun battle with police outside the police station, investigators said.

Police investigators said Russell may have targeted certain people in the rampage, which followed a shift change at the industrial-radiator factory Tuesday night.

The investigators said Russell had been accumulating work demerits for his absences at Modine Manufacturing Co. and was facing the possible breakup of a romantic relationship.

Two co-workers died along the manufacturing line where Russell had worked for two years. A supervisor, shot from 50 feet away, died on the way to the hospital. Five other employees were wounded; their conditions ranged from good to critical.

Sheriff John Hemeyer said co-workers did not recall Russell talking about his personal life. Hemeyer said Russell bought the Glock .40-caliber pistol in June from a gun shop with a legal permit.

On Tuesday, Russell calmly smoked a cigarette, punched his time card and walked to his workstation on a soldering line. Then he pulled the gun and began firing.

Afterward, Russell drove downtown and parked by the police station, police said. Two officers confronted Russell, and he fired at them, police said. One of the officers fired back, and Russell started to run off, then stopped and killed himself, Police Capt. Jim Johnsen said.